Mixer/sifter

ABSTRACT

A mixer/sifter combination includes an electric, hand mixer together with a sifter attachment that is designed to be coupled to the mixer via the mixer&#39;s aperture that rotates a typical beater so that the mixer can be used to perform sifting functions. The sifter attachment includes a coupler rod that connects to the mixer, various gears that reduce the rate of rotation of a sifter beater attached to the gears and disposed within a sifter cup of the sifter attachment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to kitchen appliancesand, more particularly, to a mixer/sifter combination and also to asifter attachment for use with an electric hand mixer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electric hand mixers are well known. These devices enable usersto mix items in a bowl in an easy and relatively effort free manner.Electric hand mixers most commonly are used during cooking and bakingactivities. Most common hand mixers utilize detachable beaters for easycleaning and storage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide amixer/sifter combination device which performs sifting in a convenientand easy to use manner.

[0004] It is another object of the present invention to provide a sifterattachment for an electric hand held mixer which likewise performssifting in a convenient and easy to use manner.

[0005] Various other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, amixer/sifter combination is provided that includes a mixer that canreceive an element to be rotated (e.g., a beater) and to operativelyrotate that element. The combination further includes a sifterattachment that can be inserted into the mixer and that sifts asubstance when the mixer is operated.

[0007] As an aspect of the invention, the sifter attachment includes acoupler rod that is inserted into the mixer, and a sifter beater that isoperatively connected to the coupler rod.

[0008] As a feature of this aspect, the sifter attachment includes agear mechanism with a first end coupled to the coupler rod and a secondend coupled to the sifter beater.

[0009] As another feature, the gear mechanism is adapted to rotate thesifter beater at a rate of rotation less than the rate at which themixer rotates the coupler rod.

[0010] As another aspect of the invention, the sifter attachmentincludes a sifter cup for holding the substance to be sifted, and thesifter beater is disposed within the sifter cup.

[0011] As a further aspect of the invention, the mixer includes a bottomsurface with an aperture into which a beater can be inserted, and thesifter attachment includes a coupler rod with an end identical to theend of the beater so that the coupler rod can be inserted into theaperture of the mixer.

[0012] As an additional aspect, the sifter attachment includes a screendisposed at the bottom of the sifter cup through which the substancepasses when it is sifted, and the sifter beater is disposed within andnear the bottom of the sifter cup.

[0013] As a further aspect of the present invention, the bottom surfaceof the mixer includes two surfaces, a first bottom surface and a secondbottom surface that protrudes from the center of the first bottomsurface. The aperture of the mixer is disposed in the second bottomsurface, and the sifter attachment includes a front plate with twosurfaces, a first front surface and a second front surface that isrecessed from the center of the first front surface. Respective sizes ofthe first and second bottom surfaces of the mixer correspond torespective sizes of the first and second front surfaces of the sifterattachment so that the bottom surface of the mixer can abut against thefront plate of the sifter attachment. The coupler rod extends through anaperture in the second front surface of the sifter attachment at theposition that corresponds to the position of the aperture in the secondbottom surface of the mixer.

[0014] As an addition aspect of the invention, the mixer is an electrichand mixer.

[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, asifter attachment is provided to attach to a typical mixer. The sifterattachment includes a coupler rod that can be inserted into the mixer,and a sifter beater that is operatively connected to the coupler rod andwhich performs the sifting function.

[0016] As an aspect of this embodiment, the sifter attachment includes afront plate that abuts against the bottom surface of the mixer, and thecoupler rod has an end that can be received in an aperture of the mixerthat is disposed in the mixer's bottom surface. The front plate of thesifter attachment also includes an aperture through which the end of thecoupler rod extends, and the position of the aperture in the front plateof the sifter corresponds to the position of the aperture in the bottomsurface of the mixer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The following detailed description, given by way of example andnot intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best beappreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mixer/sifter of the presentinvention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the mixer/sifter of thepresent invention;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the electric mixer portionwithout the sifter attachment connected, in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0021]FIG. 4 is another view of the mixer portion of the presentinvention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the sifterattachment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 6 is another view of the mixer portion of the presentinvention, partially showing beaters attached thereto; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a phantom view of the mixer/sifter of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The mixer/sifter of the present invention is comprised of twocomponents, an electric mixer unit and a sifter attachment unit (orsimply, sifter attachment). The present invention also is directed to asifter attachment designed for use with existing electric hand mixers.

[0026]FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings schematically illustrate themixer/sifter combination 10 of the present invention. Mixer/sifter 10includes an electric mixer 12 and a sifter attachment 14. Mixer 12,shown by itself in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes features and structure thatexist in 20 typical electric hand mixers. For example, hand mixer 12includes speed control and on/off buttons 20, an eject button 22, apower cord 24, a handle 26, an LCD display 28 and feet 30.

[0027] These features are known in the art and thus descriptions oftheir operation and design are omitted herein except where necessary foran understanding of the present invention.

[0028] Mixer 12 of the present invention further includes a bottomsurface 40, a surface 42 that protrudes from bottom surface 40 andapertures 32 a and 32 b disposed within surface 42 (see FIG. 4) thatreceive typical beaters as well as the sifter attachment of the presentinvention. Beaters 50 a and 50 b, partially shown in FIG. 6, are typicalbeaters in the art and can be attached to mixer 12 by inserting theminto apertures 32 a and 32 b. The specific structure, design andoperation of apertures 32 a, 32 b, as wells as the internal designthereof, and beaters 50 a and 50 b can be that of any existing hand heldelectric mixer/beater. When beaters 50 a and 50 b are inserted intoapertures 32 a and 32 b, mixer 12 of the present invention operates in amanner identical to existing mixers. Likewise, buttons 20 and LCDdisplay 28 operate in a manner well known in the art and theirconstruction, design and operation are the same as that of existingelectric hand mixers. Thus, further description thereof is omittedherein except where necessary for an understanding of the presentinvention. Moreover, mixer 12 includes a motor and additional internalcomponents necessary for its operation, and such components are wellknown in the art. The internal structure and design of mixer 12 is notpertinent to the present invention. Eject button 22 operates to ejectthe beaters when depressed, in a manner well known.

[0029] In accordance with the present invention, mixer 12 can be coupledto sifter attachment 14, which is shown partially exploded in FIG. 5. Aspreviously mentioned with reference to FIG. 4, mixer 12 includes bottomsurfaces 40 and 42. Surface 42 is provided to facilitate 20 coupling tosifter attachment 14. Sifter attachment 14 includes, as shown in FIG. 5,a front plate 60, various gear mechanisms and container portion 80.Front plate 60 includes a front surface 62, a recessed surface 64 and anaperture 66 through which a coupler rod 70 extends.

[0030] To connect sifter attachment 14 to mixer 12, an end 71 of couplerrod 70 of the sifter attachment is inserted into the mixer's aperture 32a until rod 70 is locked in place. Coupler rod 70 has a size and shapeequivalent to that of the ends of beaters 50 a and 50 b (FIG. 6), thatis, that part of beaters 50 a and 50 b that are inserted into apertures32 a and 32 b. Thus, end 71 of rod 70 is inserted into and held by themixer in a manner identical to how beaters 50a and 50 b are inserted andheld. When sifter attachment 14 is coupled to mixer 12, front wall 62 ofthe sifter attachment abuts against bottom surface 40 of the mixer and,similarly, recessed surface 64 of the sifter attachment abuts againstsurface 42 of the mixer. Protruding surface 42 in connection with therecessed area defined by surface 64 operate to stabilize and support thesifter attachment during use, although it is possible for the sifterattachment to be stabilized in another manner known in the art. However,the design described herein and shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawingsresults in an attractive design, proper coupling of the parts, andproper support of the sifter attachment onto the mixer, all without theneed for additional attachment devices.

[0031] As previously mentioned, sifter attachment 14 also includesvarious gear mechanisms and container portion 80 (also identified hereinas a sifter cup). The gear mechanism of the sifter attachment includescoupler rod 70 with coupler rod end 71, which as previously mentioned isinserted into aperture 32 a of mixer 12. The other end 71 a of couplerrod 70 is directly coupled to a first gear 72 a so that gear 72 a isdriven to rotate when mixer 12 is utilized with the sifter attachment.Gear 72 a is disposed adjacent to a second gear 72 b which in turn isdisposed adjacent to a third gear 72 c. Gear 72 a drives gear 72 b whichin turn drives gear 72 c. A sifter beater 82, shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, iscoupled to and extends from third gear 72 c so that sifter beater 82 isdriven to rotate as gear 72 c rotates. As can be appreciated, gears 72a, 72 b and 72 c, along with coupler rod 70 driven by mixer 12,collectively operate to drive sifter beater 82 in accordance with thepresent invention. Moreover, the gears of the sifter attachment areappropriately sized to drive sifter beater 82 at a rate of rotation bestsuitable for performing sifting functions, which generally issubstantially slower than the rate at which coupler rod 70, as well asbeaters 50 a, 50 b when connected, is driven to rotate. Still further,the gear mechanism enables sifter beater 82 to be disposed near thebottom of sifter cup 80, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 7, sifter beater 82 is designed to includea number of curved blades 86 similar to that of existing sifters. Ofcourse, other blade designs and the number of blades may vary as thatshown herein. Sifter attachment 14 also includes a screen 84 at thebottom of sifter cup 80 to facilitate the sifting feature of the sifterattachment, and the shape, size and design of screen 84 can be the sameas that of any suitable screens used within existing sifters. Finally,the gear mechanism (including gears 72 a, 72 b, 72 c) of sifterattachment 14 can include additional components, such as structure tostabilize motion of components therein, such as would be well known inthe art.

[0033] During use, and upon connection of sifter attachment 14 to mixer12, the combined mixer/sifter is utilized with bottom surface 40 facingsideways (not down) so that sifter cup 80 can be filled with anyappropriate substance (e.g., sugar) to be sifted. This is in contrast towhen mixer 12 is used as a typical mixer (e.g., when beaters 50 a and 50b are attached), at which point bottom surface 40 is positioned facingdown to carry out mixing of ingredients in a bowl. After a substance tobe sifted is placed in sifter cup 80, mixer 12 is turned on utilizingbuttons 20 which, in turn, causes coupler rod 70 to rotate at arelatively high rate of rotation. The gear mechanism of the sifterattachment in turn drives sifter beater 82 to rotate at a relativelyslow rate of rotation thus causing the inserted substance to be siftedthrough screen 84. When completed, mixer 12 is turned off. Finally,eject button 22 is depressed to disconnect sifter attachment 14 frommixer 12.

[0034] As described above, the combination mixer/sifter of the presentinvention includes two main components, mixer 12 and sifter attachment14. Mixer 12 is of a design similar to that of existing electric handmixers. Moreover, mixer 12 operates in a manner identical to that ofexisting electric hand mixers and may be used with typical beaters(e.g., 50 a, 50 b) and operated in a manner well known in the art. Whenmixer 12 is coupled to the sifter attachment of the present invention,the combined device enables for sifting in a manner not previouslycontemplated. Sifter attachment 14 efficiently enables for electricsifting utilizing a hand mixer and detaches from the mixer for easycleaning and storage. Sifter attachment 14 is relatively compact andgenerally is of a size relatively comparable to that of the mixer.However, sifter attachment can be designed so that the sifter cup can belarger or smaller than that shown in the drawings. Thus, sifterattachment can be relatively large to accommodate a large volume siftercup but, at the same time, be designed in accordance herein to be usedwith a relatively small hand mixer. Conversely, sifter attachment can bedesigned to be relatively small if small sifting tasks are only needed,by providing a relatively small sifter cup 80.

[0035] Moreover, and in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention, the sifter attachment can include a detachable siftercup (not shown) which includes primarily a cup for holding the substanceto be sifted and the sifter beater. In such case, the detachable siftercup can be attached to mixer 12 via a sifter adapter (not shown) whichis comprised primarily of a coupler rod (equivalent to coupler rod 70),a front panel (equivalent to panel 60), a gear mechanism (equivalent orsimilar to gears 72 a, 72 b, 72 c), and a body including rear and sidepanels. Here, the rear panel of the sifter adapter may have a surfacedevice similar to the bottom surface (including surfaces 40, 42) ofmixer 12, and the detachable sifter cup may include a connecting surfacesimilar to the front plate 60 of the sifter attachment 14. Further, thesifter beater disposed within the detachable sifter cup may include aconnecting end that extends out from the sifter cup and has a designsimilar to coupler rod 70. Of course, other designs of such a detachablesifter cup and sifter adapter are possible.

[0036] The sifter attachment of the present invention may include a flatfront plate 60, or other suitable design, so that it can be coupled toexisting electric, hand mixers.

[0037] While the present invention has been particularly shown anddescribed in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will bereadily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, while a particular gear mechanism has been shownand described to include three gears 72 a, 72 b and 72 c, the presentinvention is not limited to this design and may include othermechanisms, and/or additional or fewer gears that carry out the samefunction as that described herein.

[0038] As another example, the present invention is not limited to thespecific designs shown in the drawings. For example, the sifter cup mayhave a different shape than that shown.

[0039] Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpretedas including the embodiments described herein, the alternativesmentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mixer/sifter combination, comprising: a mixeradapted to receive an element to be rotated and to operatively rotatethe received element; and a sifter attachment adapted to be received bythe mixer and to sift a substance when the mixer is operated.
 2. Themixer/sifter combination of claim 1, wherein the sifter attachmentincludes a coupler rod adapted to be received by the mixer, and a sifterbeater operatively connected to the coupler rod.
 3. The mixer/siftercombination of claim 2, wherein the sifter attachment includes a gearmechanism having a first end coupled to the coupler rod and a second endcoupled to the sifter beater.
 4. The mixer/sifter combination of claim3, wherein the gear mechanism is adapted to rotate the sifter beater ata rate of rotation less than a rate of rotation of the coupler rod. 5.The mixer/sifter combination of claim 2, wherein the sifter attachmentincludes a sifter cup for holding the substance to be sifted, the sifterbeater being disposed within the sifter cup.
 6. The mixer/siftercombination of claim 1, wherein the mixer includes a bottom surfacehaving an aperture adapted to receive an end of a beater, and the sifterattachment includes a coupler rod having an end substantially identicalto the end of the beater so that the coupler rod can be received by theaperture of the mixer, and the sifter attachment further includes asifter beater operatively connected to the coupler rod so that the mixercan operatively rotate the sifter beater.
 7. The mixer/siftercombination of claim 6, wherein the sifter attachment includes a siftercup for holding a substance to be sifted, a screen disposed at a bottomof the sifter cup through which the substance passes when sifted, and agear mechanism for operatively connecting the coupler rod to the sifterbeater, and the sifter beater is disposed within and near the bottom ofthe sifter cup.
 8. The mixer/sifter combination of claim 6, wherein thebottom surface of the mixer includes a first bottom surface and a secondbottom surface protruding from a center of the first bottom surface, theaperture of the mixer being disposed in the second bottom surface; andthe sifter attachment includes a front plate having a first frontsurface and a second front surface recessed from a center of the firstfront surface, respective sizes of the first and second bottom surfacesof the mixer corresponding to respective sizes of the first and secondfront surfaces of the sifter attachment so that the bottom surface ofthe mixer can abut against the front plate of the sifter attachment, andthe coupler rod extends through an aperture in the second front surfaceof the sifter attachment at a position corresponding to a position ofthe aperture in the second bottom surface of the mixer.
 9. Themixer/sifter combination of claim 1, wherein the mixer is an electrichand mixer.
 10. A sifter attachment for a mixer having an aperture forreceiving an end of an element to be operatively rotated, the sifterattachment comprising: a coupler rod adapted to be received by theaperture of the mixer; and a sifter beater operatively connected to thecoupler rod and adapted to perform a sifting function.
 11. The sifterattachment of claim 10, further comprising a gear mechanism having afirst end coupled to the coupler rod and a second end coupled to thesifter beater.
 12. The sifter attachment of claim 11, wherein the gearmechanism is adapted to rotate the sifter beater at a rate of rotationless than a rate of rotation of the coupler rod as operatively rotatedby the mixer.
 13. The sifter attachment of claim 10, further comprisinga sifter cup for holding a substance to be sifted, the sifter beaterbeing disposed within the sifter cup.
 14. The sifter attachment of claim10, wherein the coupler rod has an end adapted to be received by anaperture in the mixer for a beater.
 15. The sifter attachment of claim10, further comprising a sifter cup for holding a substance to besifted, a screen disposed at a bottom of the sifter cup through whichthe substance passes when sifted, and a gear mechanism for operativelyconnecting the coupler rod to the sifter beater, and the sifter beateris disposed within and near the bottom of the sifter cup.
 16. The sifterattachment of claim 10, further comprising a front plate adapted to abutagainst a bottom surface of the mixer, the coupler rod having an endadapted to be received in an aperture for a beater in the bottom surfaceof the mixer, the front plate of the sifter attachment including anaperture through which the end of the coupler rod extends, and aposition of the aperture in the front plate of the sifter correspondingto a position of the aperture in the bottom surface of the mixer.